Pipe-holder



(No Model.)

T. STEBBINS.

PIPE HOLDER.

No. 595,657. Patented De0.14,189'7.

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m A HIE Puma-urns wasnmctou n c U ITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

TIMOTHY STEBBINS, OF DAVENPORT, IOWA.

PIPE-HOLDER.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 595,657, dated December14, 1897. A

Application filed January 2, 1896. Renewed May 15, 1897. Serial No.636,815. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, TIMOTHY STEBBINS, of Davenport, in the county ofScott and State of Iowa, have invented certain new and usefulImprovements in Pipe-Holders, of which the following is a full, clear,and exact description, reference being had to the accompanying drawingsand to the letters of reference marked thereon.

The object of my invention is to provide a simply-constructed adjustablepipe-holder which dispenses with the necessity of a derrick and thelabor of one or more men in regulating the descent of and holding pipesused in the construction of deep wells, so as to prevent their fallinginto the well prematurely or turning when another section of pipe iscoupled thereto. This I accomplish by means of stationary and slidingjaws, together with such conjunctive devices and attachments as enableme to manipulate pipes of difierent diameters, substantially ashereinafter fully described and as illustrated in the drawings, in whichFigure 1 is a plan view of my invention. Fig. 2' is a longitudinalvertical central section through the same. Fig. 3 is a detail viewillustrative of the manner in which the movable jaw is engaged by theoperating-lever. Fig. 4 is a detail showing a side view of the fulcrumend of the operating-lever, and Fig. 5is another detail showing a sideview of anut to which said lever is fulcrumed.

Reference being had to the drawings, A represents a suitable boardhaving a wide slot a made in it extending from one end thereof to aboutits center of length and of such width that the different sizes of pipesgenerally used in the construction of deep wells can be passed throughthe same. Secured to this board A at the end of the slot is a plate B,which has branches extending a short distance along each side of saidslot, has parallel guides b 6 built up on each side thereof extendingthe greater part of the length of said plate, and has guide-tongues a,forming a continuation of the guides b, passing under a transversebridge made on the transverse plane touching the end of the slot at, thecentral part of which constitutes the stationary jaw O.

1) represents the movable jaw of my invention. This jaw D is a sort ofV-shaped easting, the parallel legs d of which are confined by theguides b and direct the movement of said jaw. When these jaws arenearest together, they can be made to clamp and hold a pipe of smalldiameter. They may be made to clamp and hold pipes of still lessdiameter, however, by the use of a detachable inverted- V-shaped falsejaw E, which conforms in curvature to and fits down over the stationaryjaw proper and is anchored in such position and in such manner as to bereadily removable therefrom. The bite of the jaws O and D can be stillfurther reduced by means ,of a serrated block (1, normally seated in arecess (1', made so as to accommodate the same in the jaw D opposite theengaging surface of jaw O, and this block is made adjustable by means ofa gage-screw e, which latter is locked by the set-screw 6'. Near the endof plate B, back of jaw C, is a lug f, and passing forward through asuitable opening in this lug is an adjusting-bolt F. The forward end ofbolt F extends into suitable openings 2', made with reference thereto inthe rear wall of the false jaw E and in jaw O, and between said lug andthese jaws it is tapped through a fulcrum-nut G of such shape anddimensions that when said bolt is turned the nut cannot turn with it.

The sides of nut G are provided with open bearings 00, and the openingsleading down from the top of the nut to said bearings are less indiameter than the bearings. Now these bearings are. designed to receivethe fulcruming-trunnions g, projecting inward from the bifurcations h ofthe end of the lever I, which are flattened on opposite sides, so as topermit them to be dropped into or withdrawn from said bearings when thelever is held in a vertical position, but which cannot be withdrawntherefrom when said lever is inclined.

Projecting laterally from the outer surface of the bifurcations h of thelever are suitable cam-shaped lugs is, substantially as shown,

which, when said lever is depressed in the manner shown in Fig. 2,engage corresponding lugs of the series of lugs m, projecting inwardtoward lever I from the parallel legs (1 of the movable jaw near theirrear ends.

In operation my invention is manipulated as follows: The pipe isinserted down through the space between the engaging surfaces of thejaws O and D, and lever I depressed by inclining it in the directionshown in Fig. 2. This brings the lugs 70 in contact with lugs m anddraws the moving jaw toward the stationary jaw and clamps and holds thepipe between them. If the diameter of the pipe is less than the distancebetween the jaws when the lever is depressed, said jaws can be broughtstill nearer together by moving the fulcrum-nut G away from thestationary jaw by properly turning the bolt F, and when this adjustmentof the jaws is not sufficient the false jaw E may be utilized, ashereinbefore described and as illustrated in the drawings. Ordinarily,however, the proper adjustment of the jaws may be effected by moving themovable jaw by hand or otherwise until it touches the pipe and embracesthe same between it and the stationary jaw and then depressing thelever, so that the eam-lugs thereof will engage some one of the seriesof lugs 'm on the legs of the movable jaw intersected by same transverseplane. \Vhile the serrated block (I can be used for reducing the graspof the jaws, it is more often used to bite into the pipe and prevent itsturning when additional sections of pipe are being coupled thereto.

What I claim as new is- 1. The combination with a stationary jaw, of amovable jaw having parallel legs extending therefrom and moving inguideways in the supporting-frame of said stationary jaw, 40 a lever, anadjustable nut in which said lever is fulcrumed and a bolt tappedthrough said nut whereby the adjustment thereof is accomplished; said.lever, engaging said legs when depressed and thereby drawing the movablejaw toward said stationary jaw.

2. The combination with a stationary jaw, of a movable jaw havingparallel legs extending therefrom and moving in guideways in thesupporting-frame of said stationary jaw and provided with lugs m a leverhaving camlugs 70, an adjustable nut in which said lever is fulcrumed,and a bolt tapped through said nut whereby the adjustment thereof isaccomplished; the lugs k engaging lugs m when said lever is depressedand thereby drawing the movable jaw toward said stationaryjaw.

TIMOTHY STEBBINS.

Witnesses:

S. B. LAFFERTY, R. B. DIeK.

